Scouting Report: Zhejiang Bulls (3-4)

The arrival of the Zhejiang Bulls gives the Sharks a chance to finishing their current home stand on a positive note before their tricky road visit to Guangdong Province. Like the Sharks, Zhejiang have not enjoyed the best of starts to their season and despite having the extremely dangerous Quincy Douby on their team, the Bulls are still coming into Shanghai with a losing record.

Douby is obviously going to be a big part of the Bulls offense. Two years ago, he was the league’s standout performer and seemed set to do the same last season until a preseason injury struck. Having surprised many in China with a move to Zhejiang instead of his previous team, the Xinjiang Tigers, Douby has shown he is still just as effective as in previous years, and after seven games is averaging a very respectable 28.7/6/.4.9. The shooting guard’s value is doubled by his willingness to draw opposing teams towards him before dishing the ball out to capable Chinese team mates like Gong Songlin and Ding Jinhui, both whom are will be also be real problems for the Sharks.

Eddy Curry, Zhejiang’s other American, the powerful but continually underwhelming center will be the third seven-footer with NBA experience coming up against Zhang Zhaoxu in as many games. Though still adjusting to the Chinese game, Curry has made it clear that he is using this opportunity to put himself in the shop window for NBA teams once the CBA finishes in March. So far, Curry is averaging 21ppg and 12 rpg and he will need to keep up this good form if he is to get himself a gig in America and yet another chance at proving his critics wrong.

All in all, this is a very tricky game for the Sharks. Boasting two legitimate overseas players and two or three excellent Chinese players mean that on their day, this Bulls team could beat anyone. Shanghai will have an extra days rest having played on Tuesday so that will be important as they look to shut down Douby but it will be an extremely close game regardless.